Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc (ENTA)

[willyw]

It may be as simple as Enanta was the first to patent. The Pfizer PI entered trials spring of 2021.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-small-biotech-says-pfizer-infringed-on-its-patent-with-paxlovid-11655915222?siteid=yhoof2
"The suit, which was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, alleges that Enanta filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office “describing coronavirus protease inhibitors invented by Enanta scientists” in July 2020. Pfizer’s patent for Paxlovid appears to have been filed three months later, and Enanta’s patent “does appear to cover the chemical space Paxlovid is in,” RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams told investors this week."
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(my comment)
When Enanta comes out with the Phase 1 date for EDP-325 next month, it may appear that not only did Enanta discover and be granted a patent for a covid treatment, but they took a little longer to create a superior compound compared to many rushed covid compounds.

Much of the commentary on the case may be illustrated by the headline of this article. The uninformed may feel like a small biotech is trying to piggyback off of Pfizer's success. As time passes and data is released and comparisons made viewpoints *could* shift.

So Enanta's position in Covid may increasingly become stronger as time passes.
First to patent, more efficacious, fewer pills, no R- boosting, fewer drug interactions; "small biotech" or leader in anti-viral space?